F1: 60% Chance of Alonso at Renault, Briatore Says

There's a 60 percent chance that Fernando Alonso will return to Renault next year, according to team boss Flavio Briatore.

Speaking to Italy's ANSA radio, the Italian confirmed that "Renault will definitely have different drivers next year, [and] there' s a 60 percent chance Alonso will be with us. When you marry, split up and get back together it is not easy, [but] we have the intention of finding a solution. This week will be decisive for the marriage.

"He can choose and he knows us. Last year he chose McLaren and made a mistake. We often forget these are 25-year-olds who have never lived their youths. They'd prefer to stay at home with their auntie than to go doing promotional work in Bangladesh or in Tokyo. Alonso knows us from a human point of view and that is important. The last season has been difficult for him. It may have even changed his personality. We'll talk, I want to see where he wants to go.

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"At McLaren he arrived as the world champion and he was put in competition against a rookie driver: that way the relationship inside a team is put in danger. You can't have two prima-donnas inside a team. You need to get behind one of the drivers.

"We have an advantage because we know him. Between today and the day after tomorrow it will be decided."

Interestingly, Toyota's official confirmation of Timo Glock to drive one of its TF108s next year made no mention of who would be the German's teammate, despite Jarno Trulli still having one year left in his contract with the Japanese squad.